State cuts gouge $29K from town's coffers

The Town of New Market will dip into its rainy-day fund to make up for a 10-percent reduction in its fiscal 2010 budget as a result of state cuts.

The Town Council voted to dip into the fund at the Sept. 9 meeting because town leaders were not prepared to cut any services from New Market's $296,943 budget.

Leaders hoped that this round of state cuts did not foretell future reductions in state revenues that could be brought on by the economic recession.

"We're dealing with an unprecedented economy," Mayor Winslow Burhans III said before the vote. "Hopefully, we don't have to start cutting programs."

Maryland recently cut $10 million in aid to Frederick County and its municipalities, and Burhans said the town's share of the highway user revenues — fees collected by the state from car sales tax, gasoline taxes and vehicle registration — dropped from a budgeted $33,229 to $3,725.

The council voted unanimously to close the $29,503 shortfall by dipping into the town's reserve of money not earmarked for a specific purpose.

Councilwoman Rita Mueller was absent for the vote.

The reserve fund contained $50,608, which will leave the town with $21,105 unspoken for.

Councilman Jake Romanell said he would vote for the measure, provided there was a caveat that the council would take all care to avoid spending the money taken from the reserve.

"It doesn't mean we're going to spend it," he said.

"I'm all about that," Burhans said.

Sept. 26 is Walking Day

in New Market

Councilman David Price, in an effort to show that New Market remains a viable tourist town, has been asking for one-day proclamations changing the town's nickname from the "Antiques Capital of Maryland," to reflect store openings and other events.

On Sept. 26, the town will be renamed the "Walking Capital of Maryland" to reflect the Freestate Happy Wanderers club's 10-kilometer walk through New Market.

Price said the walk, which will take a good portion of that day, will generate business for the town.

Last month, the council proclaimed that for the day of Aug. 22, it would be the "Shabby Chic Capital of Maryland" to commemorate the opening of Ruffled Feathers, a store specializing in that style of home décor.

Price styled the resolution a "publicity gimmick," and said it was in the vein of other towns' similar proclamations aimed at increasing tourism.

The town has suffered several economic blows this year, not the least of which being the closure of Mealey's Restaurant, a destination in the town. Price said the closure of Mealey's Restaurant has led to a noticeable drop in foot traffic at the stores in town.

The measure passed unanimously at the Sept. 9 meeting. A suggestion was made to create a calendar of these days, but Price said he had no further ideas at the time of the meeting.